Joseba Beloki is out of the Tour de France after suffering multiple fractures during a fall on the final descent on stage nine.

Beloki, the runner-up last year, was once more lying in second place, just 40 seconds behind race leader Lance Armstrong.

The Spaniard was part of a group of riders chasing down Alexandre Vinokourov as stage nine reached its climax.

He lost control as he braked at speed on a tight bend and crashed on to the tarmac.

The ONCE team leader fell on his elbow and also hit his head and suffered a number of cuts.

Armstrong was right behind, and only just managed to avoid the prone Beloki, who was later taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Doctors said he had broken his right leg near the hip and suffered wrist and elbow fractures.

The American was forced off the road and had to take a short cut across a field, cutting out a hairpin bend. He then had to jump off his bike to carrying it through a ditch before remounting just a few places down the field.

"His tyre exploded in front of me," Armstrong said. "I decided to do a bit of cyclo cross!" he added.

"I was really scared. It was the reflexes of a survivor."

The 31-year-old Texan, bidding for a record-equalling fifth Tour win, retained the race leader's yellow jersey by 21 seconds from Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan, the victor yesterday who came in 36 seconds ahead of his pursuers after the 184.5km ride to Gap from Bourg d'Oisans including some more tough Alpine ascents.

Italy's Paolo Bettini finished second on the day with Spain's Iban Mayo coming third just ahead of Armstrong, who did well to finish so high given his dramatic escape.